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How does a society weigh equal individual protections under the law while at the same time honoring freedom of religion? Can the two be separated?
A recent Mining Journal article highlights a divide in the complex question of how sexual orientation or gender identity should be handled by religious institutions.
Religious freedom is considered a fundamental value in American society — but how can it intersect with other individual freedoms and rights against discrimination?
A group known as Concerned Catholics of the Diocese of Marquette County have been at odds with church leadership since it issued a religious instruction about how pastoral leaders should deal with people who identify as LGBTQ+ two years ago.
Each side seems to be approaching the issue from a place of love. But that's where the similarity ends.
A statement on the U.P. Catholic Diocese website said the 2021 policy "focuses on accompaniment with dignity and respect for the person, while remaining faithful to the teachings of the Church."
Members of the Concerned Catholics continue to say the instruction has "made a more divisive political and social atmosphere in the church," and has made people fall away from the religion because they feel excluded.
This divide does not start and end with the Upper Peninsula, nor is it confined to the Catholic Church. In fact, a survey of the people who sit in the pews at religious services paints a very interesting picture.
According to a Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study, more than 60% of Southern Baptists, 47% of Muslims and 16% of Jews believe "homosexuality" should be discouraged as opposed to 23% of Catholics who were asked the same question.
Granted, these are nationwide numbers that do not exclusively reflect what is going on in our region, but they are worth noting.
Religious organizations such as St. Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army are affiliated with churches. Many of those churches do a lot of good in their communities all on their own.
It is our hope that all parties involved in this complex disagreement can look at it through a people-first lens and try to understand the other's point of view.